Improving Patient Engagement and Satisfaction in Health IT

Improving Patient Engagement and Satisfaction in Health IT Sion Davoudi   According to Buntin et al, Health information technology (HIT) has the potential to improve the health of individuals and the performance of providers, yielding improved quality, cost savings, and greater engagement by patients in their own health care (Buntin et al, 2011). In addition to the countless business benefits, HIT really shines when it comes to patient outcome, satisfaction, and engagement. A relatively broad concept, patient engagement refers to both a patients knowledge, skills, ability, and willingness to manage his or her own health and care and intervention strategies designed to increase activation and promote positive health behaviors (James, 2013). Within its core definition, patient engagement aims for patients to take full ownership of their health. This ownership, combined with technological advancements, can directly lead to increased patient satisfaction. The patient engagement movement is relatively new, and is increasingly important given the enormous complexities of modern medicine. Indeed, many patients struggle to obtain, process, communicate, and understand even basic health information and services (James, 2013), and too often health providers are not properly trained or equipped to facilitate increased engagement by their patients. It is for that reason; technology has an important role to play in the promotion of patient engagement. With social media applications, mobile applications, online health tools, smart wearable body sensors (SWS), technology is a primary driver in achieving increased patient engagement across the population. With social media, e-patients can engage in dialogue with other patients and health educators. Various social media platforms can often include patient stories, expert opinions by health professions, and information about what a patient can expect from a particular procedure (Gallant et al., 2011). For example, Facebook walls allow e-patients interact with each other on health inquiries, hospital services and events. Additionally, mobile applications provide patients the flexibility to access information from remote locations. As a patient, I can access my health record, prescription history, access a drug encyclopedia, or e-mail my doctor directly. This convenience and ease of use allows for not only my increased engagement but also eliminates a need to make a trip to my doctors office. A single technological application that can increase engagement, higher satisfaction, and reduce costs. One limitation with this technology is the digital divide, as accessibility among the poor and elderly will need to rise. Lastly, smart wearable body sensors (SWS) have gained popularity over the years thanks to fitness related devices like the FitBit and Apple Watch. Because SWS allow patients to self-monitor and track their data in real-time, they are uniquely suited to guide patient behavior from the flexibility of home, work or travel. I can monitor and track distance traveled, heartrate, and calories burned with my FitBit application. There is little doubt that technology has and will continue to impact patient engagement and satisfaction. We need to continue advancements in technology and increase our use of social media, mobile applications, and wearable devices. However, while the future holds much promise, important limitations must be overcome to ensure this potential becomes reality. References Buntin, M., Burke, M., Hoaglin, M., Blumenthal, D. (2011). The Benefits Of Health Information Technology: A Review Of The Recent Literature Shows Predominantly Positive Results. Health Affairs, 30(3), 464-471. http://dx.doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2011.0178 Gallant, L.M., Irizarry, C., Boone,G. Krep, G.L. (2011). Promoting Participatory Medicine with Social Media: New Media Application on Hospital Websites that Enhance Health Education and e-Patient Voice, Journal of Participatory Medicine; 3. James, J. (2016). Patient Engagement. Health Affairs Health Policy Briefs. Retrieved 16 June 2016, from http://www.healthaffairs.org/healthpolicybriefs/brief.php?brief_id=86

Gerschenkron Model

ECONOMIC HISTORY Answers Reading I 1. In the case of England, the agricultural sector played a key role in industrialization. This is mainly because, the increase in productivity in the sector led to an increase in the workers income, and this increase made possible for them to save more. The increase in savings led to an increase in investment in the industrial sector. When we are talking about a backward country, the process cannot be imitated.Backward countries had a traditional agriculture, and there was not an increase of productivity, so the agricultural sector could not finance the imports of capital needed. Also it was much easier to borrow money from institutions than being dependent of the agriculture. 2. Although Rostow thought that countries followed a stage-like pattern of development, Gerschenkron firmly disagreed with this assumption: Rostow implied that all countries repeat the same process of industrialization; this could be seen as a â€Å"inescapable law of econom ic development.The process of industrialization of the advance countries was not the same as of the backward countries. For example, England did not have any institution to finance its industrialization, in contrast to the late-comers, who had a whole international financing system built. This advantage of backwardness is what the Gerschenkron model is about. Each country had its own process of industrialization and it did not have to follow certain stages. 3. In order to industrialize, backward countries need to import large amounts of capital.The technology imported will come from the advance countries, and will help the relative backward countries to become advanced. The process of industrialization of these countries will take, in fact, much less time compared to the advanced countries, because the technology imported is far more efficient than those used in first place by the advanced countries when they were in the middle of the process. Since they have access to this new tech nology that the advanced countries did not have, these countries have an advantage for being backward economies. However, hese advantages do not come naturally to the country, but it is the government that needs to use the advantage in their favor in order to achieve a modern economy in less time. 4. a) Big Spurt: In the text Gerschenkron refers uses the term to describe the moment when the industrialization in a backward country begins, and there is a rapid economic growth. It is closely related to Rostow’s â€Å"take-off† but the big spurt focuses on the manufacturing and mining sector b) Missed opportunity: This term it is used to describe the failure of applying the proper substitutions in a given economy in order to obtain a big spurt.Like the case of Bulgaria when there was a failure to make the proper substitutions and there was not a big spurt. 5. The prerequisites for industrial growth are: a) Abolition of an archaic framework in agricultural organization: In order to increase the productivity of Land and of Labor, so there can be an increase of supply to face the increase of demand (due to the increase of population).This will increase the worker’s income, allowing them to save more, and therefore invest in the industry sector. b) Creation of a modern elite that seek economic growth: In Europe, the Noble class had no interest in changing their way of life (serfdom), so in order to access industrialization there is a need to create a group of influential entrepreneurs that seek a modern economy that is more productive and efficient. ) Provision of a social over-head capital in physical form: In the backward countries, there is a need of capital in order to industrialize. The government must seek this capital by borrowing it from financial institutions. Getting the capital by themselves was not an option, since there was not enough savings and it would have took much longer than just borrowing the capital.

Male vs Female Friendships

Male vs Female Friendships BY sf0409928 Male Vs. Female Friendships How different is a friendship with a woman from the one with a man? What do you prefer? Are they the same kind of friendship or does it depend on the person? I have my own opinions to compare and contrast about these two kinds of friendships, such as confidence, places to go out and the way of thinking. Confidence is very important to establish in a friendship.Confessing something is difficult but when you have someone important who can listen to you and give you ome advice is great. I think most women tend to criticize you or be more gossipy with what you tell them. On the other hand, men are more reliable with your secrets and most of the time listen to you without criticizing. Another important aspect to consider is the places to go out. I think I have more options with female friends than with male friends. With female friends you can go shopping, since girls can shop forever with no problem.Also girls can go to clubs ogether and get discounts on drinks, Just because they are women. A male friend doesn't like to shop as much as females. One advantage is you can go to clubs with men and never feel alone, because he is always going to be taking care of you. The way of thinking influences so much in a friendship. Most women think with their hearts and always try to give you the best advice. Men on the other hand, are more blunt. They will tell you exactly how they feel even if it's going to hurt your eelings.The one thing to remember is that a true friend will always tell you the truth. I think women and men both make excellent friends. It depends on the situation your in whether you want to chill with men or women at the time. Depending on what you want to do or want to talk about is when you will make that decision. Just remember good friends are hard to come by. Whether they are male or female Just remember the happiness that he or she brings into your life.

Geoglyphs - Worldwide Ancient Art of the Landscape

A geoglyph is an ancient ground drawing, low relief mound, or other geometric or effigy work that was formed by humans out of earth or stone. Many of them are enormous and their patterns cannot be fully appreciated visually without the use of aircraft or drones, yet they are  found in isolated places throughout the world and some are thousands of years old. Why they were built remains a mystery: purposes attributed to them are almost as varied as their shapes and locations. They could be land and resource markers, animal traps, cemeteries, water management features, public ceremonial spaces, and/or astronomical alignments. What is a Geoglyph? A geoglyph is a human-made rearrangement of the natural landscape to create a geometric or effigy form.They are found the world over and are difficult to date, but many are several thousands of years old.They are often very large and can only be visually appreciated from high above.Examples include the Nazca lines in South America, the Uffington Horse in the UK, Effigy Mounds in North America, and Desert Kites in Arabia. What is a Geoglyph? Geoglyphs are known across the world and vary widely in construction type and size. Researchers recognize two broad categories of geoglyphs: extractive and additive and many geoglyphs combine the two techniques. Extractive geoglyphs (also called negative, campo barrido or intaglio) involves scraping away of the top layer of soil on a piece of land, exposing contrasting colors and textures of the lower layer to create designs.Additive geoglyphs (or positive or rock alignments) are made by gathering materials and piling them on the soil surface to create the design. This 365-foot-long (111 m) silhouette of a horse carved into the chalky side of a hill in the county of Oxfordshire, west of London, stands out clearly downhill from the ruins of Uffington castle. HOPE PRODUCTIONS/Yann Arthus Bertrand / Getty Images Extractive geoglyphs include the Uffington Horse (1000 BCE) and the Cerne Abbas Giant (a.k.a. the Rude Man), although scholars typically refer to them as chalk giants: the vegetation has been scraped away revealing the chalk bedrock. Some scholars have argued that The Cerne Abbas Giant—a big naked guy holding a matching club—may be a 17th-century hoax: but its still a geoglyph. Australias Gummingurru arrangement is a series of additive rock alignments which include animals effigies of emus and turtles and snakes, as well as some geometric shapes. The Nazca Lines Aerial View of Hummingbird Geoglyph, Nazca Lines. Tom Till / Photographers Choice / Getty Images The term geoglyph was likely coined in the 1970s, and it was probably first used in a published document to refer to the famous Nasca Lines of Peru. The Nazca Lines (sometimes spelled Nasca Lines) are hundreds of geoglyphs, abstract and figural art etched into part of the several hundred square kilometers of the Nazca Pampa landscape called the Pampa de San Josà © in coastal northern Peru. Most of the geoglyphs were created by people of the Nasca culture (~100 BCE–500 CE), by scraping away a few inches of rock patina in the desert. The Nazca lines are now known to have been begun in the Late Paracas period, beginning about 400 BCE; the most recent date to 600 CE. There are more than 1,500 examples, and they have been attributed to water and irrigation, ceremonial activity, ritual clearing, concepts of radiality like those expressed in the much later Inca ceque system, and perhaps astronomical alignments. Some scholars such as British archaeo-astronomer Clive Ruggles think some of them may be for pilgrimage walking—deliberately constructed so that the people could follow the path as they meditate. Many of the geoglyphs are simply lines, triangles, rectangles, spirals, trapezoids, and zigzags; others are complex abstract line networks or labyrinths; still others are spectacular humanoid and plant and animal shapes including a hummingbird, a spider, and a monkey. Gravel Drawings and the Big Horn Medicine Wheel One early use of geoglyph referred to a wide variety of gravel ground drawings at the Yuma Wash. The Yuma Wash drawings are one of several such sites found in desert locations in North America from Canada to Baja California, the most famous of which are the Blythe Intaglios and the Big Horn Medicine Wheel (built ca. 1200–1800 CE). In the late twentieth century, geoglyph specifically meant ground drawings, especially those made on desert pavements (the deserts stony surface): but since that time, some scholars have broadened the definition to include low-relief mounds and other geometric-based constructions. The most common form of geoglyph—ground drawings—are in fact found in almost all of known deserts of the world. Some are figural; many are geometric. Native American Geoglyph in Wyoming.   Christian Heeb / Getty Images Native American Effigy Mounds Some North American Native American mounds and mound groups could also be characterized as geoglyphs, such as the Woodland period Effigy Mounds in the upper Midwest and Great Serpent Mound in Ohio: these are low earthen structures made in the shapes of animals or geometric designs. Many of the effigy mounds were destroyed by farmers in the mid-19th century, so the best images we have are from early surveyors such as Squire and Davis. Clearly, Squire and Davis didnt need a drone. Plate XXXV from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley. Great Serpent in Adams County, Ohio. Ephraim George Squier and Edwin Hamilton Davis 1847 Poverty Point is a 3.500-year-old C-shaped settlement located on the Maco Ridge in Louisiana that is in the shape of spoked concentric circles. The sites original configuration has been a topic of debate for the past fifty years or more, partly due to the erosive forces of the adjacent Bayou Macon. There are the remains of five or six concentric rings cut by three or four radial aventues around an artificially raised plaza. 3,000 Year Old Poverty Point Earthwork.   Richard A. Cooke / Corbis Documentary / Getty Images In South Americas Amazon rainforest there are hundreds of geometrically-shaped (circles, ellipses, rectangles, and squares) ditched enclosures with flat centers that researchers have termed geoglyphs, although they may have served as water reservoirs or community central places. Works of the Old Men Hundreds of thousands of geoglyphs are known in or close to lava fields throughout the Arabian peninsula. In the Black Desert of Jordan, ruins, inscriptions, and geoglyphs are called by the Bedouin tribes who live the Works of the  Old Men. First brought to scholarly attention by RAF pilots flying over the desert shortly after the Arab revolt of 1916, the geoglyphs were made of stacks of basalt, between two to three slabs high. They are classified into four main categories based on their shape: kites, meandering walls, wheels, and pendants. The kites and associated walls (called desert kites) are thought to be mass kill hunting tools; wheels (circular stone arrangements with spokes) appear to be constructed for funerary or ritual use, and pendants are strings of burial cairns. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL dating) on examples in the Wadi Wisad region suggest they were built in two main pulses, one in the Late Neolithic about 8,500 years ago and one about 5,400 years ago du ring the Early Bronze Age-Chalcolithic. Atacama Geoglyphs Llama Caravan Geoglyphs, Atacama Desert, Northern Chile. Paul Harris / Getty Images The Atacama Geoglyphs are located in the coastal desert of Chile. There were more than 5,000 geoglyphs built between 600-1500 CE, made by moving around the dark desert pavement. In addition to figural art including llamas, lizards, dolphins, monkeys, humans, eagles, and rheas, the Atacama glyphs include circles, concentric circles, circles with dots, rectangles, diamonds, arrows, and crosses. One functional purpose suggested by researcher Luis Briones is that of identifying safe passage and water resources through the desert: the Atacama geoglyphs include several examples of drawings of llama caravans. Studying, Recording, Dating, and Protecting Geoglyphs The documentation of geoglyphs is performed by an ever-increasing variety of remote-sensing techniques including aerial photogrammetry, contemporary high-resolution satellite imagery, radar imagery including Doppler mapping, data from historic CORONA missions, and historic aerial photography such as that of the RAF pilots mapping desert kites. Most recently geoglyph researchers use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones). Results from all of these techniques need to be verified by pedestrian survey and/or limited excavations. Dating geoglyphs is a little tricky, but scholars have used associated pottery or other artifacts, associated structures and historic records, radiocarbon dates taken on charcoal from interior soil sampling, pedological studies of soil formation, and OSL of the soils. Sources and Further Information Athanassas, C. D., et al. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (. Journal of Archaeological Science 64 (2015): 1–11. Print.Osl) Dating and Spatial Analysis of Geometric Lines in the Northern Arabian DesertBikoulis, Peter, et al. Ancient Pathways and Geoglyphs in the Sihuas Valley of Southern Peru. Antiquity 92.365 (2018): 1377–91. Print.Briones-M, Luis. The Geoglyphs of the North Chilean Desert: An Archaeological and Artistic Perspective. Antiquity 80 (2006): 9-24. Print.Kennedy, David. The â€Å"Works of the Old Men† in Arabia: Remote Sensing in Interior Arabia. Journal of Archaeological Science 38.12 (2011): 3185–203. Print.Pollard, Joshua. The Uffington White Horse Geoglyph as Sun-Horse. Antiquity 91.356 (2017): 406–20. Print.Ruggles, Clive, and Nicholas J. Saunders. Desert Labyrinth: Lines, Landscape and Meaning at Nazca, Peru. Antiquity 86.334 (2012): 1126–40. Print.